Nutrition and Productivity: The Link Between Employee Health and Work Performance

It is well known that a healthy diet can vastly improve the way our bodies function, how we feel, and can even eradicate disease and other ailments. What is lesser-known, however, is that a healthy, nutritionally balanced diet can also greatly improve the mind, enhance cognitive function, improve mood, and lead to greater problem solving abilities across the board. In short, a healthier employee is a happier, more productive employee, and implementing a nutrition plan for your workplace could go a long way toward creating a more effective company.

More and more these days, doctors and researchers are finding that gut health is directly correlated to brain health. If your digestive system is running at peak performance, it is more than capable of filtering toxins, limiting inflammation, and ensuring that the nutrients absorbed from food get to where the body needs them most. The human brain is much like a high-performance vehicle that is always running, and the fuel and protection afforded it by the digestive system is single-handedly the most important contributing factor to the brain’s ability to perform at its best. Need proof? People who take probiotics (like those found in supplements or health drinks, such as Kombucha) have been proven to have a more positive outlook than those who do not. In addition, a recent study concluded that those who adhere closer to a Mediterranean or Japanese diet, (one rich in essential fatty acids, fresh veggies, fruits, and whole grains) as opposed to an “American” one, have a 30% lower risk of depression.

And what does a healthy diet mean for employee performance? Numerous studies have shown that happier employees leads to a better overall work environment and a healthier bottom line. In addition, body and brain health has a direct link to individual productivity. Sugary snacks and beverages wreak havoc on the body, and while they provide short surges of energy for the brain, excess glucose has been directly linked to memory loss and cognitive difficulties, and can even change the physical structure of the human brain for the worse. Conversely, consuming fresh fruit, whole grains, nuts, and other foods with healthy fats and fatty acids, can not only repair the natural structure of the brain, but can reduce stress, lead to greater short and long-term memory function, reverse brain aging, and lead to more powerful cognitive function overall. No doubt you hired your employees because they are smart, talented, capable and positive. By implementing a nutrition plan in your workplace, you can help ensure that your workforce is able to perform at their best.

The problem in many workplaces then becomes how to implement said nutrition plan. If your company is one where it is common to find sugary snacks and beverages in the kitchen and common areas, or your employees seem to rely on caffeine and fast food to get them through the day, it can be difficult - scary even - to try and change the status quo. That’s where WellnessAMPED comes in. With over 50 years of experience in improving the health and wellbeing of hundreds of workplaces, we will work directly with you and your employees to assess the situation, and create a nutritional and wellness plan individually tailored for your unique company’s needs. We know change is never easy, especially when it comes to a subject as sensitive as diet, and we are here to help. And even if your employees balk at the suggestion early on, chances are, after only a few weeks, they’ll be thanking you for your efforts.